FaultScore

Saturn VUE acceleration problems

76 of the 3,274 complaints filed about the Saturn VUE are about the throttle and cruise control — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

76

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

1

Fires

Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year

2002 VUE 6 7.9%

Median failure at 106,000 miles

2003 VUE 21 27.6%

Median failure at 40,000 miles

2004 VUE 5 6.6%

Median failure at 61,000 miles

2005 VUE 2 2.6%

Median failure at 73,006 miles

2006 VUE 9 11.8%

Median failure at 83,615 miles

2007 VUE 9 11.8%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

2008 VUE 18 23.7%

Median failure at 76,300 miles

2009 VUE 5 6.6%

Median failure at 106,850 miles

2010 VUE 1 1.3%

Median failure at 28,000 miles

What owners said

2009 Saturn VUE Dayton, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Stalls stops, with Engine power reduced, stabilitrak off. After turning or braking. Engine light with down arrow. Accident probability. DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY IF ON HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY RD!

NHTSA complaint #11618624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE Hamptonville, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My 2008 Saturn vue Engine size 3600cc, 6 cylinders has been feeling like the transmission is slipping when you get up to a certain speed and this could be very harmful to other drivers that are driving.. Sometimes the car won't go into park or reverse and I feel that since there are 3 RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE GM PLACE SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS Because someone could get hurt really badly if the transmission locks up while going down the road.

NHTSA complaint #11427977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 216,000 miles Cosby, TN Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I PUSH GAS PEDAL NO ACCEL THEN IT WOULD TAKE OFF. I HIT A TREE FROM THIS DOING THIS AND SL MM OST GOT HUT BY ANOTHER CAR FROM BEHIND

NHTSA complaint #11399651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 140,000 miles Philadelphia, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING,BRAKES. GOT REALLY TIGHT CAR BARELY WANTED TO,STOP TRANSMISSIKN WAS OVERHEATING AT THE SAME TIME CAR WASNT PASSING SECOND GEAR EVERYTHING HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE.

NHTSA complaint #11325866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 119,850 miles PHX, AZ Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY VUE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, AFTER I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, IT TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET , GOING FASTER AND FASTER UP TO 90 MILES PER HOUR, IT WOULD NOT STOP AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL, AFTER 1 MIN THE ENGINE DIED, AND I COASTED FOR A FEW MIN

NHTSA complaint #11288495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn VUE at 160,000 miles Harvey, LA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TAKATA RECALL SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON REDUCED POWER WHILE DRIVING ALL GAS AND SPEED GAUGES ARE ALL TURNED TO THE RIGHT CAR DOSENT MOVE WHEN CUT ON NO POWER STEERING WHEEL GETS HARD UNABLE TO TURN OR STEER THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 3 MONTHS NOW

NHTSA complaint #11230221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE at 54,225 miles Pittsburgh, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET GOING UP HILL, THE CAR WAS HAVING A PROBLEM ACCELERATING UP HILL. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL, THE CAR WOULD STOP, AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. HAVE TO USE ACCELERATION WHEN GOING DOWNHILL IN ORDER FOR IT TO MOVE. FINALLY WHEN I MADE IT HOME AND PARKED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE (LIKE SOMETHING WAS SCRAPING AGAINST SOMETHING). AND THEN THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I GOT OUT THE CAR, IT SMELLED LIKE BURNT METAL. WHEN I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT A LOT OF SATURN VUE USERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES AND IT APPEARS AS IF THE DEALERSHIPS ARE NOT SURE HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11205865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn VUE at 1 miles Placentia, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY SATURN ACCELERATES ALL BY ITSELF. I'M NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL & MY CAR JUST STARTS MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED & JUST GETS FASTER. I HAVE TO HOLD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES & DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW IT DOWN SO I DON'T CRASH INTO SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT TO HAPPEN. IT JUST STARTED DOING THIS 2 WEEKS AGO & IS STILL DOING IT ! PLEASE GIVE ME ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT'S TO LATE. I HAVE TO DRIVE TO DIALYSIS 3-4 DAYS A WEEK, & IT'S THE ONLY CAR I OWN. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #11170272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 140,000 miles Pinckney, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE REVERSE POSITION, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE PARTIALLY AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE ANY FURTHER IN THE REVERSE POSITION. IN ADDITION, THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #11149630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 115,356 miles Richmond, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY SATURN VUE, YEAR 2007, IS MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE TRANSMISSION ON STARTUP AND GETS LOUDER ON ACCELERATION. THE RPM IS OVERLY AMPED. ON ACCELERATION IF STUTTERS OR FEELS LIKE IT'S SKIPPING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS TAKES PLACE ON STARTING THE CAR TO DRIVING ON CITY STREETS OR THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11015279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 185,600 miles Cottageville, SC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR ON US 17A WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON, MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DECREASE THE SPEED CONTROL AND WHEN I TURNED THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF...DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWED THE CAR AT THE EXPENSE OF THE BRAKE PADS...I TURNED THE KEY SWITCH OFF.. PULLED OFF THE ROAD RESTARTED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE OVER REVVED AND I TURNED THE KEY OFF AGAIN, ATTEMPTED TO RESTART AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. STOMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND THIS TIME THE RESULTS WERE NORMAL. EITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ACCELERATOR PETAL OR CONTROL MODULE I SUSPECT WERE AT FAULT.....THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD IF WE HAD BEEN IN A HIGH TRAFFIC CONDITION...

NHTSA complaint #10927765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Saturn VUE at 125,000 miles Rochelle, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SATURN VUE 2003 HAS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. HAS STALLED DOING 80 MPH ON HWY HAS STALLED DOING 25-30 IN TOWN. SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON, POWER IS LOST TO ENGINE AND WHEN SECURITY LIGHT GOES OFF, THEN THE ENGINE WILL START AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10883801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 80,000 miles Denton, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A COMMUNICATION FAILURE, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10855205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Saturn VUE at 12 miles LOS Angeles, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (70-80MPH) ON THE FREEWAY, FOR NO REASON AT ALL MY DRIVING SPEED AUTOMATICALLY DROPS TO AROUND 50MPH AND WILL STAY THAT WAY EVEN IF I FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL. THE ONLY WAY TO PICK SPEED BACK UP IS TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 35-45MPH AND THEN GRADUALLY PICK SPEED BACK UP. WHILE THIS SPEED PROBLEM IS OCCURRING, AN ORANGE TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK LIGHTS UP ON RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10851313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 185,000 miles Mocksville, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN IT IS COLD, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. ITS TAKES APPROX. 30-45 MINUTES TO TRY AND GET THE KEY TO TURN OVER. ALSO, ONCE THE CAR IS ON IT IS EXTREMELY EASY FOR THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY IN THE PARK OF BRAKE POSITION. WHEN GOING UP AND HILLS OR DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS MY SPEED DECREASES WITH OUT MY CONTROL. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. I HAVE HAD TO GO IT CHECKED BUT, WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEMS THEY ARE MENTIONED ARE NOT PROBLEMS AT ALL AND THEY CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON.

NHTSA complaint #10821140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 72,000 miles Litchfield, CT Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000....UPDATED 02/03/16 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/09/16

NHTSA complaint #10817697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Saturn VUE at 170,000 miles Nahunta, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 80 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO LIFT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH HER FOOT, WHICH CAUSED THE SPEED TO DECREASE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OTHER OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA complaint #10733997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Saturn VUE at 120,000 miles Calhoun, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, CRUISING AT 70 IN THE FAR LEFT HAND LANE, AND SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH AND ERROR CODES STARTED FLASHING ON THE DASH (DECREASE ENGINE, ENGINE, STABILITY TRACK SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND OTHERS I DON'T REMEMBER). WITH SEMI TRUCKS AND A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND BLOWING THEIR HORNS, I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES IN AN EFFORT TO PULL OVER ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER AS GEORGIA LAW STATES...BUT IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND CONTINUED TO DECREASE. IT WAS BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT I DID NOT GET HIT BY THE VEHICLES AND SEMI TRUCKS SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. I NEARLY MISSED THE OFF RAMP. OFF ON THE EXIT RAMP WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT SO PULLED OVER TO RIGHT SIDE. MY CAR MADE A HIGH PITCHED SOUND LIKE IT DOES WHEN I REALLY STEP ON THE GAS, IT WAS REVVING AND NOW PULLING FORWARD. IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THIS NOISE WHILE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, NOT MOVING, TRIED PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL, PARK, NOTHING WOULD MAKE THE REVVING STOP. FINALLY, LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THE CAR JERKED ME FORWARD BUT THEN WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AGAIN AS I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE IT TO THE GAS STATION OFF THE EXIT. I PULLED INTO THE LOT AND AGAIN WHEN I BRAKED TO PUT IN REVERSE TO PARK IT STARTED REVVING HIGH AND JERKED FORWARD AGAIN THEN BACKWARDS. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET SIT 10 MINUTES. TURNED IT ON, IT WOULD NOT GO AWAY THE ENGINE WAS IN REVVING SO HIGH I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BLOW. I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED FROM 30+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10706593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Saturn VUE at 116,200 miles Cortland, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A STREET WHEN I HAD TO STOP FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND THE RPMS SHOT UP LIKE THE ACCELERATOR HAD STUCK. THE TRUCK STARTED TO LURCH FORWARD AND I HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AT FIRST I HAD THOUGHT THAT MAYBE MY FOOT HAD INADVERTENTLY SLIPPED PARTWAY OFF THE BRAKE ONTO THE ACCELERATOR BECAUSE MY BOOTS WERE WET AND SLIPPERY FROM THE SNOW, OR THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME COLD WE WERE EXPERIENCING. I DO NOT BELIEVE EITHER WAS THE CASE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN IN THE SPAN OF THREE WEEKS, AND ALL AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. ONE TIME I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE SPED UP AS I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AGAIN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AT THAT TIME I WAS PROBABLY DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 26, 2015. THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS ONCE AGAIN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A ROADWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN LURCHED FORWARD AS I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE ENGINE RPMS SHOT UP. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MARCH 3, 2015. A CHECK OF THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE AND PEDAL SHOWED THE LINKAGE AND PEDAL TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.

NHTSA complaint #10692289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Saturn VUE at 100,000 miles Parker, CO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN VUE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10683917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Saturn VUE problems